China: technology development and management in the context of economic reform and opening

Purpose – China has been successful in its economic reform and opening and is becoming the third largest economy and the third largest exporter in the world. The global society is looking for Chinese experience with great interest. This paper attempts to explain and explore China's experience on technology management both in breadth and in depth. The strength and weakness of China's technology management system both at macro‐ and micro‐level are fully explored. Design/methodology/approach – A basic framework to study the technology management system of China is established through the application of general systems theory. Technology Management system is analyzed to be a subsystem of national economy and it is also a subsystem of an enterprise or any organization. Approach is done at both macro‐ and micro‐level, macro‐level is studied with a retrospect of evolution of China's national science and technology planning system throughout the whole historical period. Micro‐level of behavior of enterprise with interaction to governmental policy and with technology supporting institutions is analyzed through two case studies. Findings – The successful experience of China's economic and technology management system in reform and opening is a unique combination of its national strategic planning system on the macro‐side and the changing behavior of market oriented enterprises on the micro‐side. The future prospects of China's technology Management system in catching up the advanced level depends upon the continuous improvement and adjustment of these two in adapting to the continuous change of the global environment. Originality/value – This paper is an original analysis of technology development and management system of China based upon approach from both macro‐ and micro‐side within the broader context of an opening environment of a system.